Half to w



'(No Model.)

P. L. KIRKBRIDE.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

No. 298,591. Patented May 13, 1884.

N. PETERS FMO-l-Hwlnphlf. Washington {LO Nrrn FREDERICK L. KIRKBRIDE, OF WVYANDOTTE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO IV. C. DUVALL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,591, dated May 13, 1884.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIOK'L. KIRK- BRIDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vyandotte, in the county of \Vyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-WVheels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makinga partof this speciio fication, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a wheel with my improvements attached. Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the center of the same. Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the hub I 5 with the tenons of the spokes exposed. Fig. l shows the inner face of the axle-shoulder grooved to hold springs. Fig. 5 are details to be referred to.

My invention relates to that class of wheels having a double circle of spokes; and it consists in the combination of devices hereinafter explained and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de- 2 5 scribe the exact manner in which I have carried it out.

In the drawings, A represents a vehiclewheel; B, the spokes; G, the hub, and D the fellies. The hub O is mortised to receive at 0 each point a pair of spokes in different circles, as shown, but at such angles that all the spokes will point to a central line in the fellies. These spokes fit closely together for shdrt distance up, and brace each other, thus giving greater 5, strength to the wheel. The hub G tapers from the center toward each end to receive the corrugated flanges E, which extend up on each side of the spokes, bracing and strengthening them. These flanges are pressed into position with considerable force, and are then firmly bolted together. The axle Fhas the usual collar, a, and directly in front of the collar I form a shoulder, Z), longer than in the ordinary axle, and in this shoulder b, I form three or more 4 5 grooves, c, in which I insert small spiral springs (1. Over this shoulder is placed a cap-shaped ring, 6, provided with studs f, fitting in the grooves c and pressing on the springs cl, which bear against the inner end of the hub. The cap 6 adjusts itself automatically against the end of the hub, so as to prevent dust, sand, or water from passing in between the axle and the hub, thereby greatly preventing increased friction and increasing the durability of the axle. The cap 6 has on its smaller rim a notch, 6, through which oil can be introduced for lubrication by simply loosening the outside nut, which holds the wheel on the axle. The loosening of this nut allows the springs d to move back the ring 6 until the notch e is eX- posed. This allows of the wheel being lubricated without being removed from the axle. Projecting inwardly from the shoulder b projects an arm, G, provided with a screw-thread,

on which fits the tubular connection G, completing the axle of the vehicle. The tube G, being first heated, is screwed on the arm G, and then being allowed to cool, cannot be removed without again heating the metal.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vehicle-wheel, the hub 0, having a circle of mortises and a series of spokes, ar-

ranged as shown, in combination with an axle, F, provided with a collar, a, a shoulder, I), having grooves adapted to receive springs d, and a cap, 6, provided with studs f, and a perforation, e, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A tubular vehicle-axle adapted to receive the threaded end G of an axle, F, which is provided with a collar, and a shoulder having grooves for the reception of springs, and a cap, 6, provided with lugs, substantially as set forth.

3. The axle F, provided with the collar a, in combination with the grooved shoulder b, the springs d, and cap 0, provided with the studs f, all constructed to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FREDERICK L. KIRKBRIDE.

I'Vitnesses: v

LEWIS KUNTZ, EUGENE I. KELLY. 

